How Kris Jenner Shaped My Business Philosophy

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - APRIL 08: Kris Jenner speaks onstage during The Daily Front Row's 4th Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards at Beverly Hills Hotel on April 8, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Daily Front Row)

If you asked what’s most helped me grow and develop as a leader and entrepreneur, I’d be tempted to answer by talking about Gladwell-like psychology books with one-word titles like Grit and Mindset, but (although those are personal favorites), if I’m being honest, I’d have to tell you it’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Say what you will about the Kardashian-Jenner family’s goals and how they reached them, but you can’t deny that they are successful in achieving those goals. What better embodies a just-get-your-foot-in-the-door attitude and a growth mindset than a TV show about a famous family who is famous because they’re on a TV show?

Confidence

When I think of the kind of unshakeable confidence and maximization I want to emulate, I think of Kris Jenner pitching the idea for Keeping Up With the Kardashians to Ryan Seacrest. Imagine having enough confidence in your brand that you sell a reality TV show about it — and enough confidence in yourself to do so without even making sure the necessary partners are on board first! By the time her children found out about the show, there were already contracts to sign. Kourtney and Khloé were initially “really against it,” but one thing I’ve always admired about Kris Jenner is that when she has an idea, she follows through and makes it happen. Potential dissidents like Kourtney are much less likely to refuse when you’ve already put in the legwork and the project is ready to launch rather than in the concept phase. Kris Jenner doesn’t wait for the whole team to be on board before she pursues a project.

“If somebody says no, you're talking to the wrong person.”

This is my favorite Kris Jenner quote — maybe my favorite quote. ‘No’ is never a reason to give up on your ideas. It’s just a reason to rethink them, to figure out a workaround, to find someone who will say ‘yes.’

Most people won’t take you seriously when you’re starting out—the least you can do is disagree with them. In 10^th grade, I asked my principal for permission to start an anti-bullying club and hold a school-wide assembly. He said no – six times.

I let the issue drop—my principal, in that moment, was the wrong person. Months later, I told him about an anti-bullying non-profit that I suggested he invite for a school-wide assembly. Much more comfortable working with an organization than with a student, he agreed. Of course, the organization was one I had founded after his initial refusal, but the assembly went well and he ended up being one of the organization’s biggest supporters.

Hustle

When I think of Kris Jenner, I think of non-stop hustle. She is always chasing a new venture, and putting 110% into whatever that is. She is absolutely relentless with her children, as their mom and their manager — to Kris Jenner, there is no greater disappointment than one of her children wanting to back out of a commitment or take it easy. She has an extremely strong work ethic, even if the work we’re talking about are generally photoshoots and publicity events. We can see how deep this work ethic was ingrained in the promos for the new season of KUWTK, where Kourtney’s seeming lack of commitment to a photoshoot resulted in the accusation that she “doesn’t want to be a Kardashian anymore”— those values aren’t just important, they’re essential to being a part of the family.

Let's block ads! (Why?)